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\up0 \nosupersub \ulnone \outl0\strokewidth0 \strokec2 Heller, 
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	I had often heard stories of fishermen lost at sea but they were just that...stories. That changed last fall when Dad and Bruno, our dog, were lost on the open sea for three days. Dad\'92s a fisherman like his Dad before him and like my Uncle Raff. Dad left on December first, the start of our crabbing season. He boasted that he\'92d have his boat so loaded with full traps there\'92d only be a small spot left to fit the likes of him and Bruno.And he talked of the presents he\'92d buy Mom and my sister and I for Christmas with the money he made from his catch.\
	I believed him. I always do. And I always knew nothing could beat Dad, not even the sea. He\'92d stood at the mast with his weathered face into the sun on the morning he left. I\'92d seen him do it a thousand times before but this time seemed different. And the red sky that morning seemed to be sign, a warning. I remembered the words \'93red sky at morn sailors take warn.\'94 But Dad didn\'92t.\
	Storms come on quickly by the sea and this one took Dad by surprise. It took all of us by surprise. The gales caused waves bigger than I\'92d ever seen. And the salty wet harbor wind stung my face. Mom and I boarded up the windows as Dad would have done. And we waited. We worried.\
	The whole town searched for Dad. Helicopters hummed overhead all the time. I wondered if Dad saw them. Lights shown from the islanders boats at night as they made their way along the shores and jetties of our island. Mr. Riley\'92s lobster boat brought hot chocolate, cider and sandwiches out to all the search boats day and night. And the 
\f2\i \cf2 \strokec2 Bait and Tackle Shop
\f0\i0 \cf2 \strokec2  became the place where islanders met to make more search plans. Maps of surrounding coves and islands were set up there. 
\f2\i \cf2 \strokec2 Riley\'92s Tavern
\f0\i0 \cf2 \strokec2  served food and coffee all day and night for those not on their boats searching.\
	The weather didn\'92t help our search as the first winter snowstorm greeted us. The first storm usually brings all of us together to play. Even the adults become children racing each other on sleds. But not this year. We were all out but not a sled was in sight.\
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Heller, 
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	My little sister Kathleen followed me everywhere with a stuffed dog that looked just like Bruno clutched in her arms. Her and I sat on the snowy docks gazing out to sea. The dolphins swam nearby. Kathleen wondered  if they had seen Dad. So did I. Who knew the ocean better than those that claimed it as their home?\
	As if in answer to our question, the sea or maybe it was the dolphins that tossed a piece from my Dad\'92s boat to shore. His boat was called 
\f2\i \cf2 \strokec2 Island Wishes
\f0\i0 \cf2 \strokec2 . The piece that rolled in with the waves said 
\f2\i \cf2 \strokec2 Wishes
\f0\i0 \cf2 \strokec2 . Kathleen and I did a lot of wishing then. Somehow we knew he was still alive. We just wished we knew where.\
	I thought about the life my Dad had chosen or perhaps the life that had chosen him. He chose to fish day after day, year after year to feed us, to get clothes for me, to build our home by the sea. And I wondered if he liked it. I wondered if he was afraid on the sea and I prayed he was alive.\
	The island Coast Guard never quit. They above all never lost hope.\'94He\'92s a seaman, Kerry,\'94 they told my Mom. \'93He knows  the ways of the sea. The sea is like his second home. I promise we\'92ll find him and he\'92ll hang on until we do.\'94 On the third night that Dad was gone the snow stopped and the moon lit the night. I saw a shooting star and made a wish for Dad to come home. I hoped  Dad was wishing on the same star. \
	The third day I begged to go with the coast guard to search for Dad. Mom begged too. \'93Maybe we\'92ll bring the luck we need to find him,\'94Mom told them. And so we went.\
	Snow started falling again as we sped out of the harbor to the open sea. I glanced back and waved to Uncle Raff and Grandpa who\'92d stayed behind just in case Dad returned. Snow swirled around us. Kathleen  hugged her stuffed Bruno even tighter as we sped away. \
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	The coast guardsmen let me help steer the boat as they talked of other rescues. And they told me to never give up hope. They told me stories of Dad on the sea and talked of his strength. They told me how much Dad loved me and Mom and the sea. I worried for Mom. Her knuckles were white as she gripped the ship\'92s railing while she stared into the horizon with hope. \
	We searched until dusk. Twilight was falling when we saw the jetty. Kathleen spotted Bruno first...a streak of white in the snowy twilight. As we sped closer with hope we all saw the shape of our big shaggy dog gazing at us. And it was there that we found my Dad huddled on the rocks. Bruno was sitting on top of him like a big shaggy blanket.  The boat was gone. The traps were gone but not Dad. I don\'92t cry often but I cried when I saw my Dad. And I knew then what tears of joy were. \
	We gathered Dad and Bruno into our boat and covered them with hugs and blankets. Dad\'92s face was bruised. And Bruno looked like he needed a good bath. And they both needed some food and rest but they were alive. I gazed up to the heavens and thanked my lucky star for granting my wish.\
	After a time Dad told his tale. Soon after he left the harbor that day the sky had turned dark and the wind had picked up. He tried to turn back toward home but it was too late. The sea had tossed him and Bruno and the ship like they were toys. The waves had curled and crashed on them. And then, when it was through it had landed them on the rocks on which they were found. Bruno had huddled close for warmth and kept watch over him, always gazing toward the sea as if he knew they would be saved.\
	Later, when we were back home and warm by a fire, I asked Dad if he\'92d fish again. \'93I\'92m a fisherman, Robby. It\'92s what I do. I can\'92t imagine a better life. And look, the sea  took care of me. Bruno kept me warm.  And the Coast Guard and you and your Mother found me.\'94\
	I glanced out our window at the fishing boats in the harbor. I remembered the Coast Guard\'92s stories of rescues.  The sea seemed to call me too. Only it whispered something different. It hinted of saving fishermen from a stormy sea.  I imagined myself on the Coast Guard boat with Bruno and an open sea and a little boy looking at me with hope in his eyes and counting on me to find his Dad.\
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Maryellen Heller\
4 Harvest Hill Road\
Danbury CT 06811\
Cell # (203) 232-9355\
Telephone # (203) 739-0101\
E-mail : [email protected]
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